Sweet corn 2016

[ovrszd]

I admit that after spending 16 years as a Research Chemist and using some pretty sophisticated instruments, measurements and calculations, my "bushel" of corn, as we euphemistically call it means very little. What you get is two of the large brown grocery sacks, full of fresh out-of-the-field still in the shucks corn-on-the-cob. Experience tells me the size, maturity and quality will vary from ear-to-ear and from sack-to-sack and from sacker-to-sacker. What with paying $15 per "bushel", what ever that turns out to be, waiting in line for 3 hours, driving 40 miles each way, spending the rest of the day cleaning, blanching and freezing the corn, exact measurements and price come secondary to the fact that really good corn is best fresh picked and immediately frozen.

I am told that as soon as the corn is picked, it activates an enzyme that begins converting the sugar in the corn to starch, thus reducing the quality and flavor very quickly. Blanching and freezing kills the enzyme and halts the process. The whole family loves this fresh-frozen corn, and it sure tastes great around New Years. It is probably the only thing in the world I would "willingly" wait in line that long for.

Very well stated. And when I can buy it at that price I don't spend any time raising it.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Very well stated. And when I can buy it at that price I don't spend any time raising it.

You really need a fairly large...don't ask me how large...space to raise corn. If you just plant a couple of rows, it doesn't pollenate properly. I used to raise a small plot...about 25X25, and got some good corn, but not too much. You're right, it's so much easier and better to buy it if you can find it. Small plots, I found, besides not pollenating well, are pretty vulnerable to bugs and racoons; and in this country if it doesn't mature by the 4th of July, it stands a good chance of burning up in the hot dry sun; so you have to make sure you have an early maturing variety.

 

[kevin37b]

How do you people like to cook it ? We like to soak it in water , husk and all . Throw it on grill husk and all for 10 minutes and it seems to steam itself to perfection . Did not mean to hijack , oops !

 

[ovrszd]

You really need a fairly large...don't ask me how large...space to raise corn. If you just plant a couple of rows, it doesn't pollenate properly. I used to raise a small plot...about 25X25, and got some good corn, but not too much. You're right, it's so much easier and better to buy it if you can find it. Small plots, I found, besides not pollenating well, are pretty vulnerable to bugs and racoons; and in this country if it doesn't mature by the 4th of July, it stands a good chance of burning up in the hot dry sun; so you have to make sure you have an early maturing variety.

Yep, here too. Running joke is your corn is ready to harvest the day after the raccoons eat it all.

 

[oldballs]

I don't try to figure the cost of having/doing/growing anything anymore. I happily give away all my produce by the pickup truck full of assorted baskets/bushels. In fact, being a gardener not a farmer, I gotta be losing my arse dorkin' around out there in the dirt. My crop of Peaches & Cream sweet corn was tender and delicious however.

 

[ovrszd]

I don't try to figure the cost of having/doing/growing anything anymore. I happily give away all my produce by the pickup truck full of assorted baskets/bushels. In fact, being a gardener not a farmer, I gotta be losing my arse dorkin' around out there in the dirt. My crop of Peaches & Cream sweet corn was tender and delicious however.

Mike, you are an exceptional man. You Garden for your Soul, not for the money or even the food.

 

[oldballs]

Good luck to superCslim, down there in Nowata. I hope he can make a buck, cause that "soul food" don't cut it when one is hungry.

 

[OldMcDonald]

2LaneCruzer, at #10 - What it costs in time (and to a limited extent money) is not important to me either, if it is what I want and like. I may be a peasant farmer, but I live well. That is my whole ethos in life. I have little money but if I eat and drink well then I am happy to look forward to tomorrow and get out there and get my hands dirty.

Totally agree too about the quick freezing. I do not know where I first heard it but the saying goes "Walk down to the garden/field to pick your corn and run back to the kitchen with it". I think it is better frozen overnightrather than keep it a day and then cook it. The same goes for Asparagus. We are in the midst of asparagus season here and I was out half an hour ago (just on dark) to pick some for tonight's dinner, which I was told is now ready about 2 mins ago.

 

[ovrszd]

2LaneCruzer, at #10 - What it costs in time (and to a limited extent money) is not important to me either, if it is what I want and like. I may be a peasant farmer, but I live well. That is my whole ethos in life. I have little money but if I eat and drink well then I am happy to look forward to tomorrow and get out there and get my hands dirty.

Totally agree too about the quick freezing. I do not know where I first heard it but the saying goes "Walk down to the garden/field to pick your corn and run back to the kitchen with it". I think it is better frozen overnightrather than keep it a day and then cook it. The same goes for Asparagus. We are in the midst of asparagus season here and I was out half an hour ago (just on dark) to pick some for tonight's dinner, which I was told is now ready about 2 mins ago.

I was curious how your seasons compare to ours. I'm in Northern Missouri, Central Midwest. Our Asparagus is just coming up for the season.

 

[teejk]

I don't try to figure the cost of having/doing/growing anything anymore. I happily give away all my produce by the pickup truck full of assorted baskets/bushels. In fact, being a gardener not a farmer, I gotta be losing my arse dorkin' around out there in the dirt. My crop of Peaches & Cream sweet corn was tender and delicious however.

kinda the same as feeding birds ain't it? Would hate to ever calculate what we spend there but we continue to do it...and it ain't over yet...the rose breasted grosbeaks will be arriving in about a month (and when they land here they come in a caravan...had 18 males at the feeder at one time 2 years ago when they landed). And then the orioles will arrive (they don't stick around long but nice to see around the jelly feeder for a few weeks). And then we get the indigo buntings. And lately more and more scarlet tanagers. My grandpa was one of those "leave me alone" guys (I never did ever get to know him well)...in addition to his large veggie garden he tended red raspberries and concord grapes (both very much "leave me alone" pursuits to do it right). Sometimes our hobbies can not be priced in cost.